Prosthetic heart valve devices with tethered anchors and associated systems and methods

ABSTRACT

Prosthetic heart valve devices with tethered anchors and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A heart valve device configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, a valve support for carrying a prosthetic valve. The valve support can be configured to be implanted at an annulus of a native mitral valve. The device can further include at least one elongated flexible member extending from the valve support in a ventricular direction, and an anchor coupled to the valve support via the elongated flexible member. The anchor can be shaped to wrap around an exterior area of an apical portion of the heart. In addition, the anchor can inhibit retrograde migration of the valve support.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/329,400, filed Apr. 29, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology relates generally to prosthetic heart valve devices. In particular, various embodiments of the present technology are related to prosthetic mitral valve devices with tethered anchors and associated methods and systems.

BACKGROUND

The mitral valve acts as a check valve to prevent flow of oxygenated blood back into the left atrium during systole, i.e., when the left ventricle contracts. This allows oxygenated blood to pump into the aorta through the aortic valve. Regurgitation of the mitral valve can significantly decrease the pumping efficiency of the heart and thereby increase the risk of severe, progressive heart failure. Mitral valve regurgitation can be characterized by retrograde flow from the left ventricle of a heart through an incompetent mitral valve into the left atrium. Mitral valve regurgitation can result from a number of mechanical defects. For example, leaflets, chordae tendineae coupled to the leaflets, and/or the papillary muscles of the mitral valve may be damaged or otherwise dysfunctional. In at least some instances, the mitral valve annulus itself may be damaged, dilated, or weakened such that the mitral valve does not close adequately during systole.

One mechanism for treating mitral valve regurgitation is mitral valve replacement. Percutaneous mitral valve replacement is significantly more challenging than aortic valve replacement because the native mitral valve and surrounding structures pose unique anatomical obstacles. Unlike the relatively symmetric and uniform native aortic valve, the mitral valve annulus has a non-circular, D-shape or kidney-like shape, with a non-planar saddle-like geometry. Such complexity makes it difficult to design a mitral valve prosthesis that conforms adequately to the mitral annulus to prevent leakage and backflow. For example, gaps between the prosthesis and the native tissue allow backflow of blood through the gaps from the left ventricle to the left atrium. As a result, cylindrical valve prostheses may leave gaps in commissural regions of the native valve that potentially result in perivalvular leaks in those regions.

In addition to its irregular, unpredictable shape, which changes size over the course of each heartbeat, the mitral valve annulus also lacks a significant amount of radial support from surrounding tissue. The aortic valve, for example, is completely surrounded by fibro-elastic tissue that provides the native structural support to anchor a prosthetic valve. The inner wall of the native mitral valve, however, is bound by a thin vessel wall separating the mitral valve annulus from the inferior portion of the aortic outflow tract. As a result, significant radial forces on the mitral annulus, such as those exerted by expanding stent prostheses, could cause collapse of the inferior portion of the aortic tract. Further, since the chordae tendineae extend from the papillary muscles to the underside of the leaflets, deploying a valve prosthesis on the ventricular side of the native mitral annulus is challenging. Thus, prosthetic mitral valves must accommodate the difficult anatomy of the mitral valve and surrounding structures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present technology can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed on illustrating clearly the principles of the present technology. For ease of reference, throughout this disclosure identical reference numbers may be used to identify identical or at least generally similar or analogous components or features.

FIG. 1A is a partial cross-sectional side view of a heart valve device positioned in a heart in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

FIG. 1B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the heart valve device of FIG. 1A.

FIGS. 2A-2C are partial cross-sectional side views illustrating stages of a trans-apical implantation procedure of a heart valve device in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

FIGS. 3A-3C are partial cross-sectional side views illustrating stages of a trans-septal implantation procedure of a heart valve device in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present technology is generally directed to prosthetic heart valve devices with tethered anchors and associated systems and methods. Specific details of several embodiments of the present technology are described herein with reference to FIGS. 1A-3C. Although many of the embodiments are described with respect to devices, systems, and methods for prosthetic heart valve devices for replacement of a native mitral valve, other applications and other embodiments in addition to those described herein are within the scope of the present technology. For example, at least some embodiments of the present technology may be useful for replacement of other valves, such as the tricuspid valve or the aortic valve. It should be noted that other embodiments in addition to those disclosed herein are within the scope of the present technology. Further, embodiments of the present technology can have different configurations, components, and/or procedures than those shown or described herein. Moreover, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that embodiments of the present technology can have configurations, components, and/or procedures in addition to those shown or described herein and that these and other embodiments can be without several of the configurations, components, and/or procedures shown or described herein without deviating from the present technology.

With regard to the terms “distal” and “proximal” within this description, unless otherwise specified, the terms can reference relative positions of portions of a prosthetic valve device and/or an associated delivery device with reference to an operator and/or a location in the vasculature or heart. For example, in referring to a delivery catheter suitable to deliver and position various prosthetic valve devices described herein, “proximal” can refer to a position closer to the operator of the device or an incision into the vasculature, and “distal” can refer to a position that is more distant from the operator of the device or further from the incision along the vasculature (e.g., the end of the catheter). With respect to a prosthetic heart valve device, the terms “proximal” and “distal” can refer to the location of portions of the device with respect to the direction of blood flow. For example, proximal can refer to an upstream position or a position of blood inflow, and distal can refer to a downstream position or a position of blood outflow.

FIG. 1A is a partial cross-sectional side view of a heart valve device 100 (“device 100”) positioned in a heart H in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the device 100. As shown in FIG. 1A, the device 100 includes a valve support 102 for carrying a prosthetic valve 104 and a plurality of elongated flexible members (identified individually as first through fourth elongated flexible members 106 a-106 d, respectively; referred to collectively as elongated flexible members 106). The elongated flexible members 106 extend from the valve support 102 in a distal or ventricular direction. The device 100 further includes an anchor 108 coupled to the valve support 102 via the elongated flexible members 106. The anchor 108 can be shaped and sized to wrap around or otherwise at least substantially conform to an exterior area of an apical portion 101 of the heart H. The valve support 102 can be implanted at or proximate to an annulus A of a native mitral valve MV of the heart H, and the elongated flexible members 106 can extend from the valve support 102 in a ventricular direction through an opening 103 in the apical portion 101 of the heart wall 105 to the anchor 108. The elongated flexible members 106 can tether the valve support 102 to the anchor 108 such that the anchor 108 opposes movement of the valve support 102 in an atrial or proximal direction. Accordingly, the tethered anchor 108 inhibits retrograde migration of the valve support 102.

The device 100 can be compressible from an expanded or deployed state (shown in FIG. 1A) to low-profile, delivery state such that the device 100 can be delivered to a target site (e.g., the mitral valve MV). As discussed in further detail below, when in the low-profile delivery state, the device 100 can be constrained within a delivery catheter (not shown) that can, for example, trans-apically, transfemorally, or trans-septally deliver the device 100 to the target site. At the target site, the valve support 102 can deploy from the delivery catheter and transform to the larger, expanded state such that the valve support 102 engages native tissue at the target site, such as the native annulus A of the mitral valve MV, the leaflets L, and/or other tissue at the mitral valve MV. In various embodiments, the valve support 102 can self-expand to the expanded state. In other embodiments, the valve support 102 may be expanded using a balloon catheter or other stent-expansion devices. In other embodiments, the valve support 102 may be mechanically expandable.

The valve support 102 can be made from a stent or other type of frame that can carry the prosthetic valve 104. For example, valve support 102 can be made from a resilient biocompatible material that moves from the low-profile delivery state to the expanded state, such as stainless steel, platinum, nickel cobalt or cobalt chromium alloys (e.g., MP35N), nickel titanium alloys (e.g., Nitinol), and/or other suitable frame materials for carrying prosthetic valves. When the valve support 102 is made from superelastic shape memory materials, such as Nitinol, the valve support 102 can be collapsed into a very low profile delivery configuration suitable for delivery through the vasculature via a catheter (not shown), and self-expand when unconstrained from the catheter to a deployed configuration suitably sized to replace the target valve. The valve support can be a braided or woven frame, a laser-cut frame made from a metal tube, and/or other suitable stent structures.

The prosthetic valve 104 can include two, three, or more leaflets 110 that are arranged in a bicuspid, tricuspid, or other suitable valve configuration and attached to the valve support 102 using sutures, glue, and/or other suitable attachment mechanisms for joining the prosthetic valve 104 to the valve support 102. The leaflets 110 may be formed of various biocompatible, flexible, and at least substantially impermeable materials. For example, the leaflets 110 can be made from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene terephthalate, pyrolytic carbon, biologic tissue (e.g., pericardial tissue or xenograft valve tissue such as porcine heart tissue or bovine pericardium), and/or other biocompatible materials. During valve operation in a mitral application, the leaflets 110 move from a closed position in which blood flow is blocked from passing through the valve support 102 from the left ventricle to the left atrium and an open position in which blood flows through the valve support 102 in a downstream direction from the left atrium to the left ventricle. The valve support 102 can serve as a scaffold having radial rigidity to maintain a circular or other desired cross-sectional shape of the prosthetic valve 104 to ensure that the leaflets 110 coapt or otherwise seal when the device 100 is subject to external radial pressure (e.g., during systole). Suitable valve supports 102 and prosthetic valves 104 are described in, for example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/664,652 to Duffy et al., filed Oct. 31, 2012; U.S. Pat. No. 8,323,336 to Hill et al., filed Apr. 23, 2009; PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2012/043636 to Gifford et al., filed Jun. 21, 2012; PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2012/061215 to Morriss et al., filed Oct. 19, 2012; PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2012/061219 to Morriss et al., filed Oct. 19, 2012; and PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2014/29549 to Morriss et al., filed Mar. 14, 2014. All of the foregoing applications and patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The elongated flexible members 106 can be lines, tethers, chords, and/or other structures for connecting the valve support 102 to the anchor 108. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A, the device 100 includes four flexible members 106. In other embodiments, the device 100 can include one, two, three, or more than four flexible members 106. Each flexible member 106 shown in FIGS. 1A-1B includes a first end portion 112 attached to the valve support 102 and a second end portion 114 attached to the anchor 108. In other embodiments (note shown), the valve support 102 can be attached to a harness having one or more chords (e.g., three or four chords) that extend from the valve support 102 downwardly into the left ventricle and a single line that attaches the harness to the anchor 108. The first end portions 112 in the illustrated embodiment are independently attached to the valve support 102 at different, spaced apart portions of the valve support 102. For example, the first end portions 112 are spaced apart around the circumference or perimeter of the valve support 102. The first end portions 112 can be attached to a proximal region of the valve support 102 (e.g., near the left atrium LA), a central region of the valve support 102, a distal region of the valve support 102 (e.g., near the left ventricle LV), an outer side of the valve support 102, and/or to an inner side of the valve support 102. The first end portions 112 can be attached to individual struts of the valve support 102, intersections of struts of the valve support 102, a graft material associated with the valve support 102, and/or tether attachment loops or points on the valve support 102. Various attachment mechanisms can be used to attach the first end portions 112 to the valve support 102, such as tying the first end portions 112 to portions of the valve support 102, fastening the first end portions 112 to the valve support 102 using clips, tabs, clamps, and/or other fasteners, and/or gluing the first end portions to portions of the valve support. In further embodiments, the first end portions 112 of the elongated flexible members 106 can be attached to the leaflets 110. For example, the first end portions 112 can be drawn through the leaflets and fastened via sutures, tabs, and/or other suitable fastening mechanisms.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the elongated flexible members 106 can extend from the valve support 102, through the left ventricle LV, and through the opening 103 in the heart wall 105 to where the second end portions 114 attach to the anchor 108. The second end portions 114 of the elongated flexible members 106 can be attached to the anchor 108 at a single attachment point on the anchor 108. As shown in FIG. 1B, in other embodiments the individual second end portions 114 of the elongated flexible members 106 can be attached at separate attachment regions (identified as first through fourth attachment regions 116 a-116 d, respectively; referred to collectively as attachment regions 116) spaced apart from each other on the anchor 108. These separate attachment regions 116 can facilitate distribution of the force applied by each of the elongated flexible members 106 across the anchor 108. The second end portions 114 can be attached to the anchor 108 using fasteners (e.g., clips, tabs, sutures, and/or glue), or the second end portions 114 may themselves be tied at the attachment regions 116.

The elongated flexible members 106 can be made from synthetic or harvested bio-compatible materials. These materials may be selected such that they resist fatigue failure even after high numbers of cycles under which the flexible members 106 undergo relatively high levels of stress experienced during systole. Suitable materials for the elongated flexible members 106 may be elastic or inelastic, and may include biocompatible polymer materials, such as PFTE (polytetrafluoroethylene), polypropylene, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, nylon, silk, polyester, PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), and/or other suitable biocompatible materials.

In various embodiments, the elongated flexible members 106 may be adjustable in length such that the tension between the valve support 102 and the anchor 108 can be regulated. For example, the second end portions 114 of the elongated flexible members 106 can extend through a fastener at the anchor 108 that only allows movement in one direction (e.g., the proximal or distal direction). An operator can pull or push the second end portions 114 of the individual elongated flexible members 106 (extending through one or more fasteners) until the tension along each of the elongated flexible members 106 has reached a desired degree, and then the single-direction fastener can inhibit retraction of the elongated flexible member 106 toward the valve support 102. In other embodiments, the single-direction fasteners can also or alternatively be attached at the valve support 102. In further embodiments, one end portion of each of the elongated flexible members 106 can remain unattached to either the valve support 102 or the anchor 108, and the end portion can be tied-off or otherwise attached to the valve support 102 or the anchor 108 once the desired length is achieved. In still further embodiments, the elongated flexible members 106 can be non-adjustable and have pre-determined lengths. For example, the predetermined lengths of the elongated flexible members 106 can be determined based on the patient's anatomy before the device implantation procedure. In certain embodiments, the elongated flexible members 106 can each have a length of 2-8 cm. In other embodiments, the elongated flexible members 106 may be shorter than 2 cm or longer than 8 cm depending on the patient's anatomy and/or whether the elongated flexible members 106 are adjustable.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the anchor 108 can be made from a frame 118 and a non-permeable material 120 on the frame 118. In the illustrated embodiment, the non-permeable material 120 is on the interior portion of the frame 118. In other embodiments, however, the non-permeable material 120 can be attached to the exterior of the frame 118 or integrated with the frame 118. In further embodiments, the frame 118 itself can be non-permeable and/or the non-permeable material 120 may be omitted. The frame 118 can be a semi-rigid yet elastic or flexible structure, such as a basket, cage, mesh, mat or other structure made from braided materials, woven materials, linkages, and/or other semi-rigid structures that can maintain a generally convex or cup-like shape, while also being sufficiently flexible to conform to the apical portion 101 of the heart H during the dynamic heart cycle. For example, the frame 118 can be made from a self-expandable material (e.g., Nitinol), carbon and titanium alloys (e.g., Ti-6AL-4V), stainless steel, carbon fiber, and/or other suitable semi-rigid, biocompatible plastic or metal materials. The non-permeable material 120 can be made from a flexible, substantially nonporous material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), polypropylene, polyester, other graft materials, tissue (e.g., synthetic or animal pericardial tissue), and/or polyester.

The anchor 108, when expanded, has a concave interior surface area that curves around and generally conforms to the apical portion 101 of the heart H. In various embodiments, the anchor 108 can be attached to the apical portion 101 of the heart H via self-expansion by wrapping around the exterior surface of the apical portion 101 to secure itself to the heart H. In other embodiments, the anchor 108 may be attached to the apical portion 101 of the heart H via sutures and/or other suitable fasteners that join the anchor 108 to the heart H.

When secured in place, the anchor 108 and tethered connection to the valve support 102 counteract the retrograde forces applied to the valve support 102 during ventricular contraction. This prevents retrograde movement of the valve support 102 to maintain the desired position of the valve support 102 within the mitral valve MV. Because the anchor 108 stabilizes the valve support 102 and counters the force applied to the support 102 during systole, the valve support 102 itself must not include the same level of fixation structures and mechanisms that would be necessary to secure itself to the native annulus A as prosthetic heart valve devices that do not include the elongated flexible members 106 and the anchor 108. For example, the valve support 102 may have relatively small fixation area that contacts the native tissue (e.g., at the annulus A) and, therefore, facilitates the use of a smaller delivery catheter. In certain embodiments, for example, the proximal or superior portion of the valve support 102 does not extend above the native annulus.

The force imparted on the valve support 102 during systole and transferred to the anchor 108 by the elongated flexible members 106 can spread across the surface area of the anchor 108. This is expected to apply a less concentrated force to the anchor 108 and the opposing region of the heart wall 105 than if the elongated flexible members 106 were attached to a smaller fastener at a single point at the apical portion 101 of the heart H near the opening 103 in the heart wall 105. In certain embodiments, for example, the interior surface area of the anchor 108 (i.e., the surface area facing the apical portion 101 of the heart wall 105) can be several times greater than the area of the opening 103 in the heart wall 105 through which the elongated flexible members 106 extend. For example, the opening 103 in the heart wall 105 may be 18 Fr (6 mm in diameter), and the anchor 108 may have dimensions (e.g., an inner diameter or other cross-sectional dimension) corresponding to the dimensions of the apex of the patient's heart, which can vary from about 10 mm to 100 mm in diameter. Accordingly, the interior surface area of the anchor 108 can be two, three, five, ten, twenty, thirty, or more times larger than the opening 103. The anchor 108 is sized and shaped to conform to the three-dimensional curvature of the apex of the heart H such that the anchor 108 provides sufficient surface area to distribute the stresses applied to the anchor 108 by the elongated flexible members 106. Therefore, the anchor 108 can limit the degree of stress applied to the apical region 101 and to the ventricles and avoid damage to the opposing tissue of the heart wall 105.

The anchor 108 can also serve as a sealing mechanism that seals the opening 103 between in the heart wall 105 through which the elongated flexible members 106 extend. When the device 100 is implanted trans-apically, the opening 103 must be formed in the apical region 101 to deliver the device 100 to the mitral valve MV. Accordingly, the anchor 108 can be a substitute for purse string sutures or other closure mechanisms that are typically used to close the opening formed during trans-apical implantation procedures. In other embodiments, the opening 103 in the apical region 101 can be sutured or otherwise closed, and the anchor 108 can cover the closed opening 103.

In addition, the large basket-like structure of the anchor 108 supports the apical portion 101 of the heart and may thus inhibit expansion of the left ventricle LV. Patients that undergo mitral valve replacement often have progressive heart disease, which typically dilates (e.g., enlarges and/or lengthens) the left ventricle LV of the heart and expands the mitral valve MV such that the native leaflets no longer coapt. By wrapping around the apical portion 101 of the heart H and being semi-rigid, the anchor 108 also supports the apical portion 101 in its current state to reduce the likelihood of further expansion and maintain the ventricular structure. In further embodiments, the anchor 108 is configured to contract around the apical portion 101 to limit dilation and potentially decrease the size of the left ventricle LV.

FIGS. 2A-2C are side views illustrating stages of a trans-apical implantation procedure of the device 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. The device 100 can be deployed using a delivery catheter 230, which can be controlled by an operator using a control apparatus (e.g., a handle; not shown) at a proximal portion (not shown) of the delivery catheter 230 outside of the patient. During a trans-apical delivery, the device 100 is compressed to a low-profile delivery state within a distal portion 232 of the delivery catheter 230, and the distal portion 232 delivery catheter 230 is inserted through the opening 103 into the left ventricle LV. As shown in FIG. 2A, once the distal end of the delivery catheter 230 is at the target site proximate to the annulus A of the mitral valve MV, the valve support 102 is released from the distal portion 232 of the delivery catheter 230 and expanded to a deployed state such that the valve support 102 contacts the native annulus A and/or surrounding tissue. The valve support 102 can self-expand to the deployed state or may be expanded using a balloon catheter and/or other type of expansion device.

After the valve support 102 is secured in position at the mitral valve MV, the delivery catheter 230 is retracted in a proximal direction (i.e., toward an operator, in a ventricular direction away from the mitral valve MV). As shown in FIG. 2B, as the delivery catheter 230 is withdrawn, the elongated flexible members 106 are deployed from the distal portion 232 of the delivery catheter 230 and through the opening 103 in the heart wall 105.

Upon exiting the opening 103, the anchor 108 is released from the delivery catheter 230 and expanded around the apical portion 101 of the heart. In various embodiments, the anchor 108 may self-expand around the exterior heart wall 105 to attach to the apical portion 101 of the heart. In other embodiments, the anchor 108 may be sutured or otherwise attached to the exterior heart wall 105. In embodiments where the anchor 108 is non-permeable, the anchor 108 can also seal the opening 103 (FIGS. 2A and 2B) in the heart wall 105 through which the device 100 was delivered to the mitral valve MV. In other embodiments, the opening 103 may be sutured or otherwise closed before or after deployment of the anchor 108. In embodiments where the elongated flexible members 106 are adjustable in length, the length of the flexible members 106 are adjusted, if needed, as the anchor 108 is deployed and/or after the anchor 108 has been deployed such that the flexible members 106 have the desired tautness between the valve support 102 and the anchor 108. After deployment, the anchor 108 inhibits retrograde movement or other migration of the valve support 102 by opposing forces applied to the valve support 102 during systole. The large, cup-like anchor 108 is expected to spread the forces applied to the anchor 108 by the elongated support members 106 across a relatively large surface area compared to a single-point tether connection, thereby reducing the force per area applied to the heart wall 105. Further, the conformal, cup-like anchor 108 may also support the apical portion 101 of the heart to stabilize and inhibit ventricular dilation as explained above.

FIGS. 3A-3C are side views illustrating stages of a trans-septal implantation procedure of the device 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. Similar to the trans-apical delivery procedure discussed above with reference to FIGS. 2A-2C, the device 100 can be trans-septally deployed from a distal portion 332 of a delivery catheter 330 that is controlled using a control apparatus (e.g., a handle; not shown) at a proximal portion (not shown) of the delivery catheter 330 (outside of the patient). However, unlike the trans-apical delivery procedure, the trans-septal delivery can be performed intravascularly and the deployment of the device 100 occurs in generally the opposite order as the order of deployment during the trans-apical procedure. In this embodiment, the delivery catheter 330 is intravascularly delivered to the right atrium of the heart (e.g., via the aorta or the superior vena cava). A septal opening 307 is then formed in a septal wall 309 between the right and left atria such that the distal portion 332 of the delivery catheter 330 can be positioned in the left atrium.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the distal portion 332 of the delivery catheter 330 is passed through the mitral valve MV, into the left ventricle LV, and through an opening 303 formed in the apical portion 101 of the heart wall 105. The opening 303 in the apical portion 101 of the heart wall 105 and the septal opening 307 can be formed using various hole-forming devices (e.g., coring needles) coupled to the delivery catheter 330 and/or a separate device that is advanced before the distal portion 332 of the delivery catheter 330. Once the distal portion 332 of the delivery catheter 330 is positioned at the exterior of the heart wall 105, the anchor 108 can self-expand or otherwise deploy from the distal portion 332 around an exterior wall of the apical portion 101 of the heart. In this embodiment, the opening 303 may be smaller than the opening 103 (FIGS. 2A-2C) for trans-apical deployment because only the anchor 108 needs to be deployed through the opening 303, not the valve support 102 and the valve 104, which may have a larger cross-sectional dimension than the anchor 108. The deployed anchor 108 can seal the opening 303 created to deploy the anchor 108, or the opening 303 may be sutured or otherwise closed upon retraction of the delivery catheter 330 through the opening 303.

As the delivery catheter 330 retracts through the opening 303 into the left ventricle LV, the elongated flexible members 106 are released from the catheter 330 (FIG. 3B). At the target site proximate to the mitral valve MV, the valve support 102 is deployed from distal portion 332 of the delivery catheter 330 and expanded to an expanded or deployed state such that the valve support 102 is placed in apposition with the native annulus A and/or surrounding tissue of the mitral valve MV (FIG. 3C). In certain embodiments, the elongated flexible members 106 can be adjusted to provide a desired degree of tension between the anchor 108 and the valve support 102 such that the anchor 108 can inhibit retrograde movement of the valve support 102 during systole. After the device 100 is fully deployed, the delivery catheter 330 can retract into the left atrium LA and back through the opening 307, which can be sutured or otherwise closed before the delivery catheter 330 is withdrawn from the body.

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

1. A heart valve device for implantation in a native mitral valve of a heart, the heart valve device comprising:

-   -   a valve support for carrying a prosthetic valve, wherein the         valve support is configured to be implanted at an annulus of the         native mitral valve;     -   at least one elongated flexible member extending from the valve         support in a ventricular direction; and     -   an anchor coupled to the valve support via the elongated         flexible member, wherein the anchor is shaped to wrap around an         exterior area of an apical portion of the heart, and wherein the         anchor is configured to inhibit retrograde migration of the         valve support.

2. The heart valve device of example 1 wherein:

-   -   the elongated flexible member is configured to extend through an         opening in the apical portion of the heart to connect to the         anchor; and     -   the anchor comprises a material configured to cover and seal the         opening in the apical portion of the heart.

3. The heart valve device of example 1 or 2 wherein the elongated flexible member comprises a first elongated flexible member and a second elongated flexible member, and wherein the first elongated flexible member connects to a first region of the anchor and the second elongated flexible member connects to a second region of the anchor spaced apart, the first region being spaced apart from the second region.

4. The heart valve device of any one of examples 1-3 wherein the elongated flexible member is a tether that restricts movement between the valve support and the anchor.

5. The heart valve device of any one of examples 1-4 wherein the anchor comprises a semi-rigid frame and a non-permeable material on the frame.

6. The heart valve device of any one of examples 1-5 wherein the anchor comprises a self-expandable frame having a conformal concave shape, the anchor being configured to self-expand to attach to the apical portion of the heart.

7. The heart valve device of any one of examples 1-6 wherein the anchor is sized and shaped to contract around the apical portion of the heart to lessen left ventricle dilation.

8. The heart valve device of any one of examples 1-7 wherein the anchor comprises a mesh basket configured to conform to the apical portion of the heart.

9. The heart valve device of any one of examples 1-8 wherein:

-   -   the valve support comprises a frame portion that supports the         prosthetic valve; and     -   the elongated flexible member connects to the frame portion.

10. The heart valve device of any one of examples 1-8 wherein:

-   -   the valve support comprises a frame portion that supports the         prosthetic valve;     -   the prosthetic valve comprises a plurality of leaflets; and     -   the elongated flexible member connects to one of the leaflets of         the prosthetic valve.

11. The heart valve device of any one of examples 1-10 wherein the elongated flexible member is adjustable in length.

12. The heart valve device of example 1 wherein:

-   -   the valve support comprises a frame portion;     -   the elongated flexible member is one of a plurality of elongated         flexible members connected to the frame portion at a plurality         of spaced apart connection sites around a circumference of the         frame portion;     -   the plurality of elongated flexible members are sized to extend         from the frame portion through an opening in the apical portion         of the heart to connect to the anchor; and     -   the anchor comprises a self-expandable material having a concave         shape corresponding to the apical portion of the heart and         configured to cover and seal the opening in the apical portion         of the heart.

13. A heart valve device for implantation in a native valve of a heart, the heart valve device comprising:

-   -   a valve support configured to support a prosthetic valve;     -   an anchor having a surface area configured to attach and conform         to an exterior portion of the heart downstream of the native         valve; and     -   a plurality of elongated flexible members connecting the valve         support to the anchor.

14. The heart valve device of example 13 wherein:

-   -   the valve support is sized and shaped to be implanted in a         native annulus of a native mitral valve; and     -   the anchor is configured to attach to an apical portion of the         heart proximate to a left ventricle of the heart.

15. The heart valve device of example 13 or 14 wherein the anchor comprises a self-expandable material, and wherein the anchor self-expands to a convex shape.

16. The heart valve device of any one of examples 13-15 wherein the elongated flexible members are flexible lines connected between the valve support and the anchor.

17. The heart valve device of any one of examples 13-16 wherein the anchor comprises a woven basket having a cup-shape configured to grip the apical portion of the heart.

18. A heart valve device for implantation in a native valve of a heart, the heart valve device comprising:

-   -   a valve support for carrying a prosthetic valve, wherein the         annulus is configured to be implanted at an annulus of the         native valve;     -   an anchor comprising a mesh structure having a concave shape         when expanded, wherein the mesh structure is configured to         conform to an exterior portion of an apical region of the heart;         and     -   at least one elongated flexible member connecting the valve         support to the anchor.

19. The heart valve device of example 18 wherein the mesh structure is made of nitinol.

20. A method of implanting a heart valve device in a native valve of a heart, the method comprising:

-   -   delivering, via a delivery catheter, the heart valve device to a         chamber of the heart proximate to a native annulus of the native         valve;     -   deploying a valve support from the delivery catheter into         fixation against the native annulus;     -   deploying at least one elongated flexible member from the         delivery catheter, wherein the elongated flexible member is         connected to the valve support;     -   extending the elongated flexible member through an opening in a         portion of the heart downstream of the native valve; and     -   deploying an anchor to conform around an exterior portion of the         heart downstream of the native valve, wherein the anchor is         configured to seal the opening in the heart and inhibit         retrograde migration of the valve support.

21. The method of example 20 wherein deploying the valve support comprises affixing the valve support to the native annulus such that a superior portion of the valve support does not extend above the native annulus.

22. The method of example 20 or 21 wherein deploying the anchor comprises allowing the anchor to self-expand to a concave shape conforming to an exterior apical portion of the heart.

23. The method of any one of examples 20-22 wherein:

-   -   delivering the heart valve device to the chamber of the heart         comprises trans-apically delivering the delivery catheter to a         left ventricle of the heart;     -   deploying the valve support comprises affixing the valve support         against the native annulus of a mitral valve of the heart; and     -   extending the elongated flexible member through the opening in         the heart comprises extending the elongated flexible member         through the same opening in the left ventricle of the heart used         to deliver the delivery catheter to the left ventricle.

24. The method of any one of examples 20-22 wherein:

-   -   delivering the heart valve device to the chamber of the heart         comprises trans-septally delivering the delivery catheter to a         left ventricle of the heart; and     -   deploying the anchor occurs before deploying the valve support         such that the delivery catheter is drawn in an upstream         direction to expose the elongated flexible member and deploy the         valve support.

25. The method of any one of examples 20-24, further comprising adjusting a length of the elongated flexible member such that the elongated flexible member is taut between the valve support and the anchor.

26. The method of any one of examples 20-25, further comprising supporting the exterior portion of the heart with the anchor to inhibit dilation of the exterior portion within the anchor.

27. A method of implanting a heart valve device in a native mitral valve of a heart, the method comprising:

-   -   delivering a delivery catheter across a septal wall of the heart         into a chamber of the heart, wherein the delivery catheter         contains a heart valve device;     -   forming an opening in an apical portion of the heart proximate         to a left ventricle of the heart;     -   deploying, from the delivery catheter, an anchor at an exterior         portion of the apical portion of the native mitral valve;     -   deploying at least one elongated flexible member from the         delivery catheter, wherein the elongated flexible member extends         from the anchor through the opening in the heart; and     -   deploying, from the delivery catheter, a valve support into         fixation against a native annulus of the native mitral valve,         wherein elongated flexible member extends between the valve         support and the anchor, and the anchor is configured to inhibit         retrograde migration of the valve support.

CONCLUSION

This disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present technology to the precise forms disclosed herein. Although specific embodiments are disclosed herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible without deviating from the present technology, as those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will recognize. In some cases, well-known structures and functions have not been shown and/or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments of the present technology. Although steps of methods may be presented herein in a particular order, in alternative embodiments the steps may have another suitable order. Similarly, certain aspects of the present technology disclosed in the context of particular embodiments can be combined or eliminated in other embodiments. Furthermore, while advantages associated with certain embodiments may have been disclosed in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments can also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages or other advantages disclosed herein to fall within the scope of the present technology. Accordingly, this disclosure and associated technology can encompass other embodiments not expressly shown and/or described herein.

Throughout this disclosure, the singular terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, unless the word “or” is expressly limited to mean only a single item exclusive from the other items in reference to a list of two or more items, then the use of “or” in such a list is to be interpreted as including (a) any single item in the list, (b) all of the items in the list, or (c) any combination of the items in the list. Additionally, the terms “comprising” and the like are used throughout this disclosure to mean including at least the recited feature(s) such that any greater number of the same feature(s) and/or one or more additional types of features are not precluded. Directional terms, such as “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “back,” “vertical,” and “horizontal,” may be used herein to express and clarify the relationship between various elements. It should be understood that such terms do not denote absolute orientation. Reference herein to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar formulations means that a particular feature, structure, operation, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the present technology. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or formulations herein are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, various particular features, structures, operations, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 

I/We claim:
 1. A heart valve device for implantation in a native mitral valve of a heart, the heart valve device comprising: a valve support for carrying a prosthetic valve, wherein the valve support is configured to be implanted at an annulus of the native mitral valve; at least one elongated flexible member extending from the valve support in a ventricular direction; and an anchor coupled to the valve support via the elongated flexible member, wherein the anchor is shaped to wrap around an exterior area of an apical portion of the heart, and wherein the anchor is configured to inhibit retrograde migration of the valve support.
 2. The heart valve device of claim 1 wherein: the elongated flexible member is configured to extend through an opening in the apical portion of the heart to connect to the anchor; and the anchor comprises a material configured to cover and seal the opening in the apical portion of the heart.
 3. The heart valve device of claim 1 wherein the elongated flexible member comprises a first elongated flexible member and a second elongated flexible member, and wherein the first elongated flexible member connects to a first region of the anchor and the second elongated flexible member connects to a second region of the anchor spaced apart, the first region being spaced apart from the second region.
 4. The heart valve device of claim 1 wherein the elongated flexible member is a tether that restricts movement between the valve support and the anchor.
 5. The heart valve device of claim 1 wherein the anchor comprises a semi-rigid frame and a non-permeable material on the frame.
 6. The heart valve device of claim 1 wherein the anchor comprises a self-expandable frame having a conformal concave shape, the anchor being configured to self-expand to attach to the apical portion of the heart.
 7. The heart valve device of claim 1 wherein the anchor is sized and shaped to contract around the apical portion of the heart to lessen left ventricle dilation.
 8. The heart valve device of claim 1 wherein the anchor comprises a mesh basket configured to conform to the apical portion of the heart.
 9. The heart valve device of claim 1 wherein: the valve support comprises a frame portion that supports the prosthetic valve; and the elongated flexible member connects to the frame portion.
 10. The heart valve device of claim 1 wherein: the valve support comprises a frame portion that supports the prosthetic valve; the prosthetic valve comprises a plurality of leaflets; and the elongated flexible member connects to one of the leaflets of the prosthetic valve.
 11. The heart valve device of claim 1 wherein the elongated flexible member is adjustable in length.
 12. The heart valve device of claim 1 wherein: the valve support comprises a frame portion; the elongated flexible member is one of a plurality of elongated flexible members connected to the frame portion at a plurality of spaced apart connection sites around a circumference of the frame portion; the plurality of elongated flexible members are sized to extend from the frame portion through an opening in the apical portion of the heart to connect to the anchor; and the anchor comprises a self-expandable material having a concave shape corresponding to the apical portion of the heart and configured to cover and seal the opening in the apical portion of the heart.
 13. A heart valve device for implantation in a native valve of a heart, the heart valve device comprising: a valve support configured to support a prosthetic valve; an anchor having a surface area configured to attach and conform to an exterior portion of the heart downstream of the native valve; and a plurality of elongated flexible members connecting the valve support to the anchor.
 14. The heart valve device of claim 13 wherein: the valve support is sized and shaped to be implanted in a native annulus of a native mitral valve; and the anchor is configured to attach to an apical portion of the heart proximate to a left ventricle of the heart.
 15. The heart valve device of claim 13 wherein the anchor comprises a self-expandable material, and wherein the anchor self-expands to a convex shape.
 16. The heart valve device of claim 13 wherein the elongated flexible members are flexible lines connected between the valve support and the anchor.
 17. The heart valve device of claim 13 wherein the anchor comprises a woven basket having a cup-shape configured to grip the apical portion of the heart.
 18. A heart valve device for implantation in a native valve of a heart, the heart valve device comprising: a valve support for carrying a prosthetic valve, wherein the annulus is configured to be implanted at an annulus of the native valve; an anchor comprising a mesh structure having a concave shape when expanded, wherein the mesh structure is configured to conform to an exterior portion of an apical region of the heart; and at least one elongated flexible member connecting the valve support to the anchor.
 19. The heart valve device of claim 18 wherein the mesh structure is made of nitinol. 